COMLEX 1 Experiences

[Buster Douglas]

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Wow... that last packet sucked.

Just glad it's over. 👍

 

[Atlas]

Can anyone tell me if I should get Comlex Q-bank or USMILE? The complex has only 100 questions and the USMILE has 2100? But is it helpful to have the Comlex??

USMLE QBANK

 

[Sinnman]

USMLE QBANK

Yup.

 

[bla_3x]

USMLE QBANK

I got a deal through school that had both.

To be honest...I didn't feel that the COMLEX I was really represented by the USMLE bank or COMLEX QB. Heck, pathology was not even that useful 🙂

I thought that the usmle qb was a bit more difficult that the test turned out to be, while the comlex qb was a bit easier that the test.

 

[Globus P]

7 weeks + 1 day....how long is this going to take??? Any word when our COMLEX scores will be released to the deans?

The wait is killing me.

 

[Sinnman]

7 weeks + 1 day....how long is this going to take??? Any word when our COMLEX scores will be released to the deans?

The wait is killing me.

Next week sometime. Someone called and they said it would be mailed 8 weeks after the test.

 

[Globus P]

Next week sometime. Someone called and they said it would be mailed 8 weeks after the test.

Thanks for the reply,for some reason I thought the deans received the scores before the mass mailing. Next week it is.

 

[jennyw17]

Last year our school posted the pass/fail results on 7/29 (i think a it was a thursday) hopefully we'll hear something before the weekend. The wait is killing me also!
jenny

 

[rchrest1]

Last year our school posted the pass/fail results on 7/29 (i think a it was a thursday) hopefully we'll hear something before the weekend. The wait is killing me also!
jenny

"Hello, NBOME."

---"Hello, can you tell me when the step 1 scores will be released to schools?"

"We're not sure, we are working on them right now."

---"So, maybe in the next few days?"

"Yes, probably within the next few days."

 

[BadVB750]

Does it seem like every organization with osteopathic in the title acts overly secretive? Maybe I'm just paranoid.

 

[San_Juan_Sun]

According to an email I got today from our Dean:

National Pass average for June 2005 COMLEX 1 was 90.9%

AZCOM Pass average was 96.something%



Scores should be coming soon....

 

[patalyssa]

For those interested, COMLEX scores can be retrieved at nbome.org. 🙂 Just log onto your account to check out your score! Does anyone know where I can find the stats for the 2005 June COMLEX--it's not available at the NBOME site.

 

[Azcomstud]

For AZCOM students, you can also email Dean Cole to receive your score. I got my score within 5 minutes of emailing him.

 

[chochi]

Does anyone out there know what a good comlex score is??? There seems to be a lot of info on what a good USMLE score is, but not so much for COMLEX. Thanks and good luck everyone!

 

[Atlas]

Does anyone out there know what a good comlex score is??? There seems to be a lot of info on what a good USMLE score is, but not so much for COMLEX. Thanks and good luck everyone!

I'm gonna be honest with ya. A passing score is something to be proud about. Anything above 500 is a "good" score because you're better than average. Anything over 700 (hmmm...Sinnman and Idio), you're a stud! 🙂

 

[Doctor2007]

Scores are now available on the NBOME website!

 

[Sinnman]

I'm gonna be honest with ya. A passing score is something to be proud about. Anything above 500 is a "good" score because you're better than average. Anything over 700 (hmmm...Sinnman and Idio), you're a stud! 🙂

I was trying to stay incognito. 😉

 

[Atlas]

I was trying to stay incognito. 😉

Yeah Right! 🙂

 

[smgilles]

LECOM has a COMLEX score of 850. Any other schools have any scores in the stratosphere?

 

[tcom200901]

LECOM has a COMLEX score of 850. Any other schools have any scores in the stratosphere?

I have to doubt that in all honesty. We have two students here in the 99th percentile with COMLEX I scores of 705. a score of 850 doesn't really follow the math. Sorry- your s does not compute 😡

 

[smgilles]

I have to doubt that in all honesty. We have two students here in the 99th percentile with COMLEX I scores of 705. a score of 850 doesn't really follow the math. Sorry- your s does not compute 😡

Would you like to make a friendly wager? I have seen the score with my own eyes. It was 850. Last year's high COMLEX was 862. So it's more than possible. I would not have believed it myself if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. He also got a 263 on the USMLE, so it's not like it was a fluke.

 

[Atlas]

Would you like to make friendly wager? I have seen the score with my own eyes. It was 850. Last year's high COMLEX was 862. So it's more than possible. I would not have believed it myself if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. He also got a 263 on the USMLE, so it's not like it was a fluke.

860 OUCOM

 

[Buster Douglas]

860 OUCOM

damn goljan screwin up the curve... 😉

 

[Atlas]

damn goljan screwin up the curve... 😉

Upon further review...I meant 760 not 860! I don't know what I was thinking! Whoever got 850 is a freakin' freak!!! 😀

 

[RajMahal]

ummm, yeah...i beat 850...not! props to you, whoever you are. that's absolutely ridiculous.

 

[Mr_T]

Hey, the COMLEX was the worst worded exam I've taken. The upside is I passed. And whoever said you can't cram for this thing is wrong. I spent about 12-14 hours the weekend before cramming with First Aid. The only other prep I did outside of classes was attend about 75% of the Kaplan lectures. I agree that Micro, pharm, endocrine, and dermatones/sympathetic innervation/parasympathetic innervation are the most important topics.

 

[Idiopathic]

FYI. 860 would be approximately 4.5 SD above the mean, making you about a 1/100000 student in a test with <3000 testers. I dont think the stats add up. 765 is the highest score Ive seen in person, and Im having trouble imagining a score 1.5 SD higher than that. To all those who did well (=passed), congrats. This is a significant hurdle.

 

[OSUdoc08]

damn goljan screwin up the curve... 😉

Goljan is at OSU-COM, not OU-COM.

 

[smgilles]

FYI. 860 would be approximately 4.5 SD above the mean, making you about a 1/100000 student in a test with <3000 testers. I dont think the stats add up. 765 is the highest score Ive seen in person, and Im having trouble imagining a score 1.5 SD higher than that. To all those who did well (=passed), congrats. This is a significant hurdle.

I have seen 850 personally so I know it is possible.

 

[Dr. Yanknpull]

I agree man, what the hell is the cattle prod for? Lets see...cattle prod...small pox...sounds good. I had no idea either. Lets just say I'm not immune to whatever the hell that thing is used for.

I agree that there were a ton of questions that were "guess what we're thinking". I say give me the info I'm going to ask when I see a patient.

The picture quality seemed lacking...i.e. the MRI of the knee. Looked like they printed the pics on my epson 640 (which sucks).

These two questions are gimmies! I bet the answer had something to do with the machine at the mall being broken! And, the small pox vaccine is given by poking the skin with the two pronged metal piece thing. Don't you watch CNN! The test is more practical than most posters realize. They want to see if you can practice medicine.......not memorize crap.

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

These two questions are gimmies! I bet the answer had something to do with the machine at the mall being broken! And, the small pox vaccine is given by poking the skin with the two pronged metal piece thing. Don't you watch CNN! The test is more practical than most posters realize. They want to see if you can practice medicine.......not memorize crap.

Hindsight is always 20/20...🙂

 

[dukboki]

Comelx sucked

My 2 favorite questions were

1. Guy has no pmh and gets his bp checked at the mall. Its 160/90. Why is it high? Answer's are 5 things that cause high blood pressure. Gotta love questions where they don't give you any info to answer with

2. They show a picture of a cattle prod or something w/2 prongs at the end and ask. "What disease would you use this instrument for vaccination?" WTF?!?! how is a 2nd year medical student supposed to know that?

A bifurcated needle (forked like a snake's tongue, right?). Used for smallpox. Who would know? Any prior military who had to take the vaccination for deployment. Sounds like if I get into school I'll get one question right! 😛

What is the primary difference between the COMLEX and the USMLE? I'm still working up to applying - just wanted to get some take on the issue. Thanks!

 

[Angel]

Too all the people who took COMLEX 2005, I have read all the posts about how bad the test was etc....so I was just wondering how do you think is the best study materials to prepare for the test. 😕

 

[Steel_City]

Too all the people who took COMLEX 2005, I have read all the posts about how bad the test was etc....so I was just wondering how do you think is the best study materials to prepare for the test. 😕

I'm an MS IV but my roommate used the "Master's Guide to COMLEX" last year and said it really boosted her score. It's one of the only COMLEX-directed review books I know. Not sure if there is a new edition out and it's tough to get your hands on. Apparently, the book was put together by a bunch of students right after taking the exam so it's supposed to be right-on. Good luck with the test.

 

[Angel]

I'm an MS IV but my roommate used the "Master's Guide to COMLEX" last year and said it really boosted her score. It's one of the only COMLEX-directed review books I know. Not sure if there is a new edition out and it's tough to get your hands on. Apparently, the book was put together by a bunch of students right after taking the exam so it's supposed to be right-on. Good luck with the test.

Thanks for replying, you are right the book is difficult to find. I did a search and could not at all find it. Do you think you could give me an ISBN or is she interested in selling her copy, or tell me where I could find a copy.

Thanks again

 

[Steel_City]

Thanks for replying, you are right the book is difficult to find. I did a search and could not at all find it. Do you think you could give me an ISBN or is she interested in selling her copy, or tell me where I could find a copy.

Thanks again

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. She sold her book a while ago but there's a website with information about the book. The link is www.comlexmaster.com. Take care and good luck on the test.

 

[gioia]

Hi Guys,

I am really nervous about taking the COMLEX 1 (June). I have Kaplan for the USMLE prep and did NOT get their 'Comlex' version.

Did anyone else do it that way? I am taking both USMLE and COMLEX.

What would be your reccommendations for time between the exams?

Thank you so much...

 

[Green912]

Hi Guys,

I am really nervous about taking the COMLEX 1 (June). I have Kaplan for the USMLE prep and did NOT get their 'Comlex' version.

Did anyone else do it that way? I am taking both USMLE and COMLEX.

What would be your reccommendations for time between the exams?

Thank you so much...

I took both also. Not to worry. The only thing different from the USMLE version of the Kaplan material and the COMLEX version is some OMM scattered throught the pages. Just use what you have and get your OMM info from Savarese. I did have the COMLEX vesion and honestly thought the OMM stuff was average.

The key to the OMM questions is pure terminology. They try to trip you up by describing a dysfunction with wording you're not used to. Doesn't matter if you know OMM or not. You have to be able to decifer what they want. Terrible.

 

[Doctortobee]

Just curious if anyone took it today? How was it?

 

[HoodyHoo]

Just curious if anyone took it today? How was it?

I am also curious to know if the the COMLEX q bank is representative of what you guys took today??

 

[tewbad]

No one took the COMLEX yesterday???!!!???

 

[TrumpsMom]

No one took the COMLEX yesterday???!!!???

Okay, okay. I took it yesterday. I really prefer the computer version to the thought of 2 days of written! 😳

Was it hard? Well, yeah. What do you expect?

But I think it was very doable. . . . although I really won't know for sure until the scores come in. . . sometime in August. And that frustrates me. My understanding is they have to get as many of the first tries in as possible before they have enough to evaluate their questions.

I thought the quality of the exhibits was pretty good. The radiographs and cardiograms were fairly easy to evaluate, as were the histology slides. 👍

Anyway, for those who are planning to take COMLEX I in the near future, keep studying. Lots of neurology(especially as it relates to OMM), micro, pharm, path, etc. More psych questions than I had expected, but they were pretty straightforward.

Best of luck to all!!

 

[JayZee]

Thanks for your reply! I'm taking COMLEX on the 12th
(USMLE on the the 9th)
How was the OMM sections?

 

[TrumpsMom]

Thanks for your reply! I'm taking COMLEX on the 12th
(USMLE on the the 9th)
How was the OMM sections?

My advice to all taking the COMLEX I would be to be sure you understand the manipulation, the anatomy and physiology behind the technique, and the neurological aspects of OMM (viscerosomatic reflexes, nerve supply to muscles, sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation, etc.).

BUT I have to tell you, this was a repeat test for me. 😳 AND I really appreciate it being computerized. You take it at your own pace, being given an allotted amount of time for the first half of the test (broken into 4 sections) and then a break (for lunch, if you want it. But you don't have to take it), and then you go on with an allotted time for the last 4 sections. It really is self-guided and I thought a much better format. . . at least for me. I started about 9 am, took about 30 minutes for lunch, and was finished by 3 pm. For me that was much easier than the old written format which began at 8 am with a mandatory 1-hour lunch break, and then not getting done until 4:30 or 5 p.m. AND then repeat it again the next day. 😱

Anyway, best of luck to all!

 

[DMBmatty08]

My advice to all taking the COMLEX I would be to be sure you understand the manipulation, the anatomy and physiology behind the technique, and the neurological aspects of OMM (viscerosomatic reflexes, nerve supply to muscles, sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation, etc.).

BUT I have to tell you, this was a repeat test for me. 😳 AND I really appreciate it being computerized. You take it at your own pace, being given an allotted amount of time for the first half of the test (broken into 4 sections) and then a break (for lunch, if you want it. But you don't have to take it), and then you go on with an allotted time for the last 4 sections. It really is self-guided and I thought a much better format. . . at least for me. I started about 9 am, took about 30 minutes for lunch, and was finished by 3 pm. For me that was much easier than the old written format which began at 8 am with a mandatory 1-hour lunch break, and then not getting done until 4:30 or 5 p.m. AND then repeat it again the next day. 😱

Anyway, best of luck to all!

Did you feel that the Savarese book was adequate for the OMM sections? Do you have any suggestions for resources that prepared you well for the OMM? Thanks.

 

[TrumpsMom]

Did you feel that the Savarese book was adequate for the OMM sections? Do you have any suggestions for resources that prepared you well for the OMM? Thanks.

Savarese is okay, but I preferred Dr. Steven Simmons book and Cram Pages for last-minute review.

 

[kaplanm79]

Savarese is okay, but I preferred Dr. Steven Simmons book and Cram Pages for last-minute review.

Were tender points and counterstrain on the exam?

 

[TrumpsMom]

Were tender points and counterstrain on the exam?

Of course they were. I can't imagine a comlex without them. And so was facilitated positional release, myofascial release, muscle energy, etc. But, don't focus just on techniques and counterstrain. There is a lot more to osteopathic manipulation on this exam than just techniques.

 

[DMBmatty08]

Of course they were. I can't imagine a comlex without them. And so was facilitated positional release, myofascial release, muscle energy, etc. But, don't focus just on techniques and counterstrain. There is a lot more to osteopathic manipulation on this exam than just techniques.

I also wanted to ask if you used Kaplan COMLEX Qbank at all and if so, how representative was the Qbank of the actual test?? I would also like to thank you very much for stepping forward and helping us future test takers out by giving us your testimonial of your test experience. Best of luck to you.

 

[TrumpsMom]

I also wanted to ask if you used Kaplan COMLEX Qbank at all and if so, how representative was the Qbank of the actual test?? I would also like to thank you very much for stepping forward and helping us future test takers out by giving us your testimonial of your test experience. Best of luck to you.

I did use Kaplan COMLEX Q-bank, as well as the Kaplan USMLE Q-bank, Student Consult USMLE review, NBOME COMLEX exams that you can purchase, First Aid, Step-Up, USMLE Step 1 Secrets, Goljan Pathology, Pharmacology Recall, Microbiology Recall, and anything else I felt appropriate, including Dr. Simmons OMM Review for the Board.

As to the Kaplan COMLEX Q-bank, I felt they were a little easier than the real thing. But, by supplementing with the other materials available, I felt I had a good overall review.

 

[Richie Truxillo]

Thank you so much for posting your feedback for us. I'm scheduled for the 15th. We've all been wondering what OMM stuff to cover. I've read savarese cover to cover already but I might pick up that other book you recommended and give it a go.

Thanks for the feedback on the COMLEX QBank also. I'll be sure to focus on finishing the USMLE qbank now. 🙂

Hope you hit it out of the park this time! 👍
-Richie